Condenser



"lPat'ented `lan. 5, 1925.

UNITED y STATES rseam PATENT oFFlcE.

l DAVID GRIMES, 0E GRASMERE, NEWfYonE, AssrGNon 'ro enmEs RADIO ENGINEER- ING ce. INC.

coNDENsEE.

Application. ied May 18, 1922. Serial No. 561,829.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, DAVID GRIMEs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Grasmere, county of Richmond, and State of New York, have invented certain new and Iuseful Improvements in Condensers, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to condensers and particularly to variable condensers of the type known as plate condensers.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a condenser so construct/ed and arranged as to give a wide range of capacity.

Another object of the invention is to provide a variable plate condenser so constructed that plates can be readily removed or added, to thereby vary lthe capacity of the condenser.

Another object of the invention is to provide a condenser vof the type described se constructed and arranged as to provide for very minute capacity adjustments.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and effective means, for maintaining an electrical connection to the movable g elements.

Further objects ofthe invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings which form a part of this application and in which- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a condenser constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation view of the construeu tion shown in Fig. 1. p

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation showing the condenser elements in another position of adjustment from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the condenser shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation showing the mounting of the condenser plates.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the base showing the resilient member acting on the rack.

The invention may be briefly described as comprising one or more stationary plates or condenser elements and one or more movable condenser elements or plates, the latterplates being movable into overlapping relation with respect to the stationary elements or plates. In the embodiment of the invention shown the movable elements aretriangular in shape movable plates and the point of the triangle moves into overlapping relation with the stationary plates. This construction gives a wide range of capacity. In the form of the invention illustrated a rack issecured to the movable elements and moves with said elements, the rack being fed by a pinion. Means is also provided for maintaining the rack and pinion in cooperative engagement with each other and for maintaining an effective electrical connection to the movable elements.

Referring to the drawings the condenser comprises a base 10 of suitable insulating material, a plurality of spaced, parallel, stationary plates 11- mounted on supporting posts 12 secured to the base and a plurality of spaced, parallel, movable plates 13, these latter plates being movable between the sta? 'tionary plates 11.

The movable plates 13 are mounted on posts 16 carried by a supporting member 17 having its end portions 18 mounted in guideways formed by overhanging flanges 19. As clearly shown in Fig. 5 the posts 16 are threaded throughout their length. The plates 13 are spaced from each other by Washers 14 and are retained on the posts by nuts 15. The number of these plates can be changed at will by removing the nuts-and in this manner the capacity of the condenser can be varied. Posts 12 may also be made in the same manner as posts 16, if desired, although it is not necessary to detach plates from both the stationary and movable sets to obtain a change in capacity. The anges 19 are formed of electrical conducting material such as resilient brass strips and press down on the end portions 18 of the support 17. The supporting member 17 is also formed of electrical conducting material.

In order to feed-the movable plates a rack bar A2() is secured at 21 to the supporting member 17 and is slidably mounted in a slot .22 formed in the upper surface of the base 20. The rack bar is engaged by a pinion 23 carried by a spindle 24 rotatably mounted in a tubular member or sleeve 25 formed on or secured to a ange 26. The flange 26 is secured to one side of the edge of the base member 10 and may be formed `integggral with one of the flanges 19. A handle or knob 26 is provided for rotating the spindle 2a.

The condenser is connected into the electrical circuit by means of binding posts 30 and 31, the post 30 being secured to the stationary plates 11 and the post 31 being connected to the movable plates in the following manner. As shown in Fig. 4 the post 31 1s connected to the under side of one of the flanges 19 and this flange therefore forms an electrical connection between the post and one end 19 of the supporting member 17 since the flange 19 is resiliently pressed into engagement with this end portion of the supporting member. The post 3l is also connected to a strip 32 andthe opposite end of the strip has secured thereto au upwardly extending stud 33 which contacts with and engages the under side of the rack bar 20. The strip 32 is formed of resilient 'material and is therefore held in contact with the under side of the rack bar 20. A screw 34 disposed intermediate the ends of the strip presses the strip in a direction'to force the stud 33 upwardly. As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4 the stud 33 is positioned directly beneath the axis of the pinion 23 and therefore assists in retaining the pinion and rack bar in cooperative relation with respect to each other. The strip 32 is also connected by a suitable electrical conductor 35 to the under side of the other flange member 19 and the overlapping portion of this ,ange member maintains-an electrical contact with the other end 18 of the supporting member 17. It will thus be seen that the electrical connections from the binding post 31 to the movable plates is effected throu h both ends of the supporting member 1 and also through the rack bar which is secured to the supporting member.

A cover or casing (not shown) may enclose the condenser elements and may be` provided with a dial adapted to coact with an indicator or pointer 36 carried by the lknob 26 to indicate the adjustment of the condenser being used.

From the foregoing specification it will be seen that a condenser has been provided having a wide range of capacity and so constructed and arrangedthat very ne or minute adjustments for capacity may be made. The capacity may be varied moreover, by adding or taking away condenser elements or plates as well as by moving the plates 13 toward or away from the stationary plates 11. It will also bc noted that simple, posilive and effective means has been provided for connecting the movable pla-tes in the electric circuit and for maintaining the circuit as the plates are moved.

Although one specific embodiment of the invention has been particularly shown and described, it will be understood that the invention is capable of modification and that changes in the construction and in the arrangement of the various cooperating parts may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

What Iclaim is 1. A condenser comprising a stationary condenser element having a straight side edge, and a plate conforming in shape to an isosceles triangle movable to overlapping position with respect to said element, the

base of the triangular plate being substan- 'n tially parallel to the straight edge of the element.

2. A condenser comprising a plurality of stationary, spaced, substantially parallel plates, a plurality of spaced, substantially parallel plates movable between the'. stationary plates, said movable plates being substantially triangular in shape and being movable point first between the stationary plates, and means forming a sliding contact electrical connection with said movable plates.

3. A condenser comprising a stationary condenser element, a condenser element movable into overlapping relation with respect thereto, a rack connected to the movable element, a pinion for feeding the rack and movable element, a wire connector and an electrical conductor connecting said post and rack yand having a sliding contact with the rack.

4. A condenser comprising a stationary condenser element, a condenser element movable into overlapping relation with respect thereto, a rack connected to the movable element, a pinion for feeding the rack and movable element, and a resilient contact member engaging the under side of Said rack at a point below the axis of the pinion.

5. A condenser comprising a stationary plate, a plate movable into overlapping relation with respect to said plate, a support for said movable plate, guideways for said support, a rack connected to said support and an electrical conductor connected lo sairlli guideways and having contact with said rac 6. In a condenser, a movable support, a condenser element carried thereby, and resilient means of electrical conducting material engaging said support and formingguide ways therefor.

7. A condenser comprising a stationary condenser element, a condenser` element movable into overlapping relation with respect thereto, a rack connected to the movable element, a pinion for feeding the rack and movable element, and a spring arranged to exert a resilient pressure on the side of the rack opposite the pinion to maintain the rack in engagement with the pinion.

8. A condenser comprising a plurality of stationary plates, a plurality of movable plates, a support for said movable plates, a

rack connected near one of its ends with said support, a pinion for feeding t'iie rack, and a spring arranged to exert a resilient pressure on .the side of the rack opposite the pinion to maintain the rack in engagement with the pinion.

9. A condenser comprising a frame, a plurality of stationary plates iixedly secured to said frame, a support slidabiy mounted in the frame, a plurality of movable piates on said support, and a resilient stationary oontact bearing on said support.

10. A condenser comprising a frame, a plurality of stationary plates fixedlv secured to said frame, a support slidably mounted inA the frame, a plurality of movable plates on said support, -a rack connected near one of its ends with said support, a pinion for feeding the rack, a spring arranged to exert a resilient pressure on the side ot the rack opposite the pinion Ato maintain the rack in engagement with the pinion, and a resilient stationary contact bearing on said support. K

1L A condenser comprising a set ot stationary plates, and a set oi movable plates arranged to slide in unison into positions overlapping the xed plates, the inner side edges of one of said sets of plates being at right angles to the direction'oi movement of the movable plates, and the inner side edges oit the other .set of plates being oblique to said direction o movemente l2. A condenser comprising a vira-me, a set of stationary lplates iixedly seouredto said frame, a support slidably mounted in the frame, a set of movable plates on saidA support, a rack connected near one o its ends With said support, a pinion for feeding the rack, a spring arranged to exert a resilient pressure on the side of the raoir opposite the pinion to maintain the rack in engagement with the pinion, and a resilient stationary contact bearing on said support, the inner side edges of one of said sets of plates being at right angles to the direction of movement of the movable plates, and the inner side edges of the other set of plates being oblique to said direction of movement.

ln Witness whereof, l have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of May, 1922.

DAVD GRH/IES. 

